法華玄論 10.19

10.19

答：亦是十地，但十地去佛猶遠，其中劫數猶長，可得有八生，如《攝大乘論》說。但聞經力故，則超於劫數速至佛耳。晚見《法華論》云「八生一生得菩提者，此說初地。為菩提者此八生得入初地，乃至一生得入初地。初地離分段，故云菩提，非佛菩提也。」

Answer: They are also on the tenth bhūmi, but the tenth bhūmi is still far from Buddhahood, and the number of kalpas within it is still long, so there can be eight rebirths, as explained in the Mahāyānasaṃgraha. But by the power of hearing the sūtra, one surpasses the kalpas and swiftly reaches Buddhahood. Later I saw that the Saddharmapuṇḍarīkopadeśa says: 'Those who attain bodhi in eight rebirths or one rebirth: this refers to the first bhūmi. As for "attaining bodhi": this means in eight rebirths one attains entry into the first bhūmi, down to in one rebirth one attains entry into the first bhūmi. The first bhūmi is free from fragmented [saṃsāra], hence it is called bodhi; it is not Buddha-bodhi.'